‘Shy’ suspect arrested in mass stabbing at Pa. school

Parents and students embrace along School Road near Franklin Regional High School after more than a dozen students were stabbed by a knife wielding suspect at the school on Wednesday in Murrysville, Pa., near Pittsburgh. The suspect, a male student, was taken into custody and is being questioned.
(Photo:
AP
)

A male sophomore described as “really shy” went on a slashing and stabbing rampage Wednesday with two kitchen knives at a Murrysville, Pa., high school, injuring at least 21 students and a security guard before he was subdued and handcuffed, police said.

At least eight people were hospitalized with serious injuries, many with deep puncture wounds to the abdomen, hospital officials said.

Police said 16-year-old boy Alex Hribal was being charged as an adult following the Wednesday morning attack in Murrysville, 15 miles east of Pittsburgh.

He appeared before Magisterial District Judge Charles Conway and was charged with four counts of attempted homicide and 21 counts of aggravated assault. He was shackled by his hands and feet and was dressed in a hospital gown.

Doctors said a 17-year-old male student was in critical condition after being stabbed in his liver, diaphragm and major blood vessels, but the blade missed his heart and aorta during the attack.

Murrysville Police Chief Thomas Seefeld said the suspect, who is in custody, was being treated for injuries to his hand. The 16-year-old sophomore was tackled by Assistant Principal Sam King and handcuffed by a security guard, he said.

Seefeld said a fire alarm triggered during the incident at Franklin Regional High School prompted students to flee the building, likely keeping down the number of victims. The attack in classrooms and a hallway occurred shortly after 7 a.m., before classes began.

Sophomore Trinity McCool said the suspect, after attacking several other people nearby, took a swipe at her and a friend with what looked like a butcher knife.

“I saw his face, the look in his eyes, I was horrified,” she said.

Another student, Nate Scimio, blocked the attack, however, by sticking out his arm as the blade came down.

“(Nate) took the stab right in his arm and saved my friend and me,” McCool said. “I’m pretty sure it was his instinct. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”

McCool said Scimio also apparently set off the fire alarm that sent students rushing to the exits.

Mia Meixner, a sophomore, said that she was putting her books away near the cafeteria when she heard a commotion. and saw the male suspect “stabbing people on top of a freshman.”

She said the suspect “just got up and ran away really fast.”

“The freshman stood up, lifted up his shirt and he was gushing blood,” Meixner said. “I also saw a senior girl … and she was gushing blood down her arm.”

Meixner, who described the suspect as “really shy,” said he “always kept to himself.”

“He didn’t talk to many people,” she said. “He wasn’t mean or anything, he just wasn’t outgoing.”

Meixner said the suspect did not appear to have a target.

All of the victims were students, ages 14 to 17. At least eight people were hospitalized with serious injuries, said Mark Rubino of Forbes Hospital.

He said many of the victims have “deep penetrating injuries” to the lower abdomen and right flank.

Rubino said a 15-year-old girl applied pressure to the abdomen of one of the victims to stop the bleeding until medics arrived.

“We’re sure that played a role in his ability to be treated,” Rubino said.

VICTIMS’ CONDITIONS

All of the victims were students, ages 14 to 17. At least eight people were hospitalized with serious injuries, said Mark Rubino of Forbes Hospital. He said many of the victims have “deep penetrating injuries” to the lower abdomen and right flank.